The State of Philippine Environment

The state of Philippine environment is very alarming in the sense that almost 90% of our forests covers are already gone. This would mean our country is already prone to landslide, flash floods and other natural and man - made calamities. According to IBON, depleted forests would mean fewer sources of food, medicinal plants and renewable energy, and less capacity to nurture genetic species. The Philippine forests are one of the most diverse in the world and also one of the most endangered. This rapid decline of forested land is already critical in the sense that there are flora and fauna in the country which are already endangered, threatened or extinct. The Philippine forests have been steadily shrinking at an average rate of 2% per annum, or a relatively fast deforestation rate of 550,000 hectares per year (IBON, 2006). This rate means that every hour, 63 hectares of forests are cleared.

BC Growling LEOPARDS

In the picture: (Back: Left - Right) - Raphael Masapequeña, Neil Patrick Donayre, Arnold Sison, Kim Te, Laurence Albacite
(Front: Left - Right) - Richie Andales, Johnlie Quiamco, Christan Joy Edralin, Daryl John Contigo (Captain), Gary Eben, Concon and Hallyric Damicog
(Not in the picture) - James Rodrigo, Aaron Ortega, George Dean, Gino Bonajos

Once a leopards always be a leopard..... Long Live the BC Leopards

The Philippine Sailed Finned Lizard

Scientific name: Hydrosaurus pustulatus 

Common Name/s:

English

–

Crested Lizard, Sail-fin Lizard, Sailfin Water Lizard, Soa-soa Water Lizard

Habitat and Ecology: This semi-aquatic species is generally restricted to riparian vegetation present in lowland tropical moist forests (both primary and secondary) to open cultivated areas. It is probably omnivorous, and is associated with certain food trees. It appears to have a preference for particular shrubs and trees as resting places (often overhanging water), and is usually collected from these. This is an oviparous species that buries eggs within river banks.

Major Threat(s):The threats to the two species of Hydrosaurus in the Philippines are generally very similar. Populations appear to be principally threatened by habitat loss, often the conversion of wooded land to alternative uses (including agriculture), and through logging operations. In addition, animals (especially hatchlings) are heavily collected for both the pet trade (national and possibly international) and local consumption. Because of inter-island trade, there is some possibility of introduced animals mixing with indigenous populations. In some parts of is range it is additionally threatened by water pollution resulting from the use of agrochemicals and increased sedimentation.

Reference: http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/10335/0

Philippine Kagwang

Scientifically it is called Cynocephalus volans. This mammal is now considered endangered species because of continues destruction of its habitat through logging in the lowland dipterocarp forests (legal and illegal) and also continues hunting.

Haribon: A keystone species

Pithecophaga jefferyi 

Some facts about the Philippine Eagle:

The Philippine Eagle, Pithecophaga jefferyi, also known as the Great Philippine Eagle or Monkey-eating Eagle, is among the rarest, largest, and most powerful birds in the world (Wikipedia.com)

Upon its discovery, the Philippine Eagle was first called the monkey-eating eagle because of reports from natives of Bonga, Samar where the species was first discovered that it preyed exclusively on monkeys; from these reports it gained its generic name, from the Greek pithecus ("ape or monkey") and phagus ("eater of")

The Philippine Eagle is endemic to the Philippines and can be found on four major islands: eastern Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao

This eagle is found in dipterocarp and mid-montane forests, particularly in steep areas. Its elevation ranges from the lowlands to mountains of over 1,800 meters (5,905 ft). It is estimated that only 9,220 square kilometers (2,280,000 acres) of old growth forest remain in the bird's range. However, its total estimated range is about 146,000 square kilometers (56,000 sq mi)

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes (or Accipitriformes, q.v.)
Family:	Accipitridae
Genus:	Pithecophaga Ogilvie-Grant, 1897
Species:	P. jefferyi

New WBO and WBC Bantamweight Champion: The Filipino Flash

The Flash did it again: An elite fighter with a humble heart

Feel free to know the Azkals

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